75 Hard Attempt #3, Day 2: Sometimes You Know Before the Day Ends

Attempt #3 — Day 2.

I woke up around 5 a.m.

And I was still feeling the effects of the day before.

Too much sun.

Too much fun.

Not enough recovery.

I knew I had to leave the house by 6, so there wasn't much time to waste.

The girls were flying out that morning, so we loaded up the car and headed toward the airport.

I knew I wasn't going to get my first workout done before leaving, but I wasn't worried.

At least not yet.

I told myself I'd fit it in later.

No problem.

I've done that before.

Airport Morning

On the drive, I stopped at Starbucks.

I ordered a latte and a tomato mozzarella sandwich.

Simple.

Easy.

Airport mornings aren't usually the time for elaborate meal planning.

We got the girls checked in.

Lots of hugs.

Lots of "text me when you land."

Lots of goodbyes.

And then they were off.

One heading back to Rhode Island.

One staying behind.

Just like that, graduation weekend was officially over.

And it was time to get back to work.

The Plan

I had a plan.

And on paper, it was a good one.

I would work with my first client.

Then I would head to the gym.

Swim laps.

Get my first workout done.

Go back to work.

Easy.

The kind of plan that sounds perfect until real life gets involved.

The Gym Fiasco

I finished with my client and headed to the gym.

I got changed.

Got everything ready.

And then realized I had forgotten my swim cap and goggles.

Not ideal.

But manageable.

I figured I'd just use the kickboard.

Keep my head above water.

Do some kicking laps.

Still counts.

Still movement.

Still gets the workout done.

Then I remembered my kickboard was in the car.

Okay.

No problem.

I'll go get it.

Except by that point I was looking at the clock.

And looking at my schedule.

And looking at reality.

And reality was looking back at me.

There wasn't enough time.

Not enough time to swim.

Not enough time to finish work.

Not enough time to get dinner.

Not enough time to fit in another workout.

And suddenly I knew.

The Moment I Knew

There wasn't some dramatic moment.

No breakdown.

No tears.

No frustration.

I just knew.

I had failed.

Again.

Attempt number three.

Day two.

Done.

Not because I didn't want it.

Not because I quit.

Not because I ate something off plan.

Not because I decided it wasn't important.

I failed because I didn't make the workout happen.

The same way I failed the last attempt because I didn't make the water happen.

The details change.

But the lesson stays the same.

Success doesn't happen because you intend to do something later.

Success happens when the important things get done first.

What I'm Noticing

At this point, I think the lesson is becoming painfully obvious.

I cannot leave critical tasks until later in the day.

Not workouts.

Not water.

Not reading.

Not the things that matter most.

Because life always gets involved.

Clients run late.

Traffic happens.

Plans change.

People need things.

Cars need repairs.

Flights leave early.

Schedules shift.

And every time I leave something important for later, I'm creating an opportunity to miss it.

This challenge keeps handing me the same lesson in different packaging.

Do the important things first.

Not when it's convenient.

Not when you feel like it.

First.

Because later is never guaranteed.

So What Happens Now?

We start again.

Wednesday.

Not next week.

Not next month.

Wednesday.

Because the goal isn't perfection.

The goal is continuing.

And while this may be another failed attempt, it isn't a failed journey.

Every restart has shown me another gap in my systems.

Another place where I need more support.

Another opportunity to build something stronger.

So tomorrow becomes Day 1.

Again.

And maybe that's okay.

Because every restart comes with more information than the one before it.

And eventually all those lessons add up.

Attempt #3, Day 2 Complete

A latte.

An airport goodbye.

A missed swim.

A forgotten kickboard.

A failed attempt.

And another opportunity to begin again.